hatch



A. G. HATCH KEYLESS LOCK 2 Sheets-Shed'.

Dec. 27, 1927.

l l l l l l l l l l l J INVENTOR 'or'ifnnal Filed June 12. 1925 Y'ML A TTORNEYS.

KEYLESS vLOCK Original Filed June 1.2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V Y 6". lal'ch v-w.. A TTORNE'.

.41,5 entl T 40 taken on a plane mima Dec." 27, i921.

ALEXANDER GILcHnIsT HATCH,

Ensim AssioNimNTs, To'Tnn QsEsAMnii'ooMPANYQbI Hanfriroanfcommm' a' comnaTIoN or CONNECTICUT;

imYLnss" Loox.

origini n. sass-z, mainly 4', 192s, serialiro. ssijeamed June' is. im. Alipnoauon `for im sied August iv, m27..- seriai No; 213,712.

This invention relates to improvements in keyless locks, and has for one of its ob'ects to rovide a device of this character w ich wil be simple in construction, comparativey l inexpensive to manufacture, and more e cient in use than those which have been here- 1 tofore proposed.

A further object of the invention is to f rovide a keyless or permutation lock em- 10 odying a simple and effective construction whereby the combination necessary to o n the lock may be readily changed at will without the necessity of using. a screw driver or any other instrument or tool, and independof any movement of the bolt structure. is combination-shifting feature is part pe representedgenerally os. 1.565.132, 1,583,635, 1,586,496, and

Havin the above-mentioned objects in view an others which will appear as the description proceeds the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combi- '25 nation and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming Aa part in all the views:

Fig. 1 is a to plan view of oneform of permutation loc constructed in accordance with the present invention, adapted for ap- 35 plication to a suit-case: parts being represented as being broken away to show underlying structure; i a

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; the section being parallel with. the surface of the face plate; 5 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

taken a proximately on the plane indicated by the ine 3-3 of Fig-2;

lI5' Fi 4 is a planview similar tol Fig. 1,

but s owing, also. tlierhasp member in operative locked position relative to theA lock;

Fig. 5 is a vertical *sectional View taken f the arrows; y

-up oneof y through the lock shown in Fig; 8,.taken ticularly applicable to keyless locks of the vbyv U. S. Patents of this specification, in ,which $0 likei'eference characters designate like parts Y approximate on thea-piane indicated by the i line" 5-5 of of the arrows;v

y,Fi 6 a similar view taken approximate y onthel plane `rindicated 'by lthe line 6-6 of Fig. 2, lo'oking'in the direction of Fig. 7 is an expanded perspective view of the several parte, disassembled, which make t ve permutation wheels or disks,

to ther withthe shield member therefor;

ig.8 is aldiagrammatic plan viewv of a slightly modified forrnoffthe lock, suitable for application to' a gripor hand-bag; and

Fig. 91 is a longitudinal sectional view roximately on 'the' Vplane indicated by ine 9 9-, lookingiii the direction of the arrows.

t Referring first to Figs. 1 to-7, inclusive, of the drawings, vthe numeral 10 :indicates generall a face plate which serves as a 'support fort evarious lockingparts ofthe'lock and whichmaykebe secured lto a vwall of thesuitcase or/,ot r device upon'wliich the lock is to be mounted by -means of suitable fastenmgs, not shown. which may vass through ho es 11 provided in the said p ate. Secured to the under surface of the face plate 10 in any suitable manner is a supporting frame, comprising a pair of members 12, which are a ertured as at 13 to serve as journals for t eV shaft 14 which supports the permutation wheels. vOf course,v any number of such wheels may be ernp'loyed,"andA for purposes ofl illustration,` only, there have been shown three wheels 15, the detailed construction of ywhich will be setv forth more fully below. It

see Fi 1 and 2), gs

which is adapted to bear against ig.v 2, looking in the direction said bolt 16 is tion 18 andthe other end of which may be'.

seated in the righthand frame member 12.

Super osed u n the bolt., member 16 is 1I the slida le latc member 25, rovided with Aa projection 26 through whic thepin 19 passes. The latch member is adapted to be moved toward the right, as seen in Fi s. 1 nd'2, by the said pin, and to be returned to its' initial'position either by the same means or b the action of a spring 27, one end of whii engagesgthe said pin 1,9, while the other end thereof is seated in the left-hand frame member 12, as clearly shown in the said fi res. The latch member serves not onf-l1 as a spring catch for the suit-case when t e lock 1s open, but it also serves as a portion of the locking bolt to prevent the opening of the suit-case when lthe lock, is closed, since, in the latter condition, movement of the pin 19 toward the right will 'be revented by the bolt 16 which will be held ast b means to'be hereinafter described. Eaehof the permutation wheels 15, as is principal parts, an inner member 30 and an outerV member 31. The inner member 30 may comprise a cylinder provided` intermediate its ends with a circumferential groove 32 in which the toes or projections 17 of the locking'vbolt 16 may ride when the parts are in the unlockedv positions, as will appear more fully below. A flange at the left-hand end of the said member 30 is provided with a longitudina1ly-disposed slot 34 extendili completely through the said flange and a fording a; passage for the said projection or toe 17 wherebythe latter may move axially of the roove 32 to a position to the'left of the said Tz circular end face 35'of the member 30 is provided with a plurality of radially-extending grooves or recesses 36, which are all' the same width as the slot of substantially 34 andfwhich serve as false slots or recesses to prevent the unauthorized opening of the lock bya movement ofthe bolt toe into engag'ement with the said face 35, followed by a, manipulation of the yvheel, as a result of which the position o f the slot 34 might be ascertained by` the ysense of touch in a manner similar to that explained in, U. S. Patent No. 1;'soo,157. u

pin 19, as will bedetent notchesA Flgs. 2, 3 and 7, comprises two wheel from a position within the said The Othermember 31 of the wheel, as bestv l meas shown in Fig. 7, cmprises the indicateuing ring, one face of which may be recessed as indicated at '37 to receive a flange 38 of the member 30. The other face of the said member y31 ma be provided with a somewhat reduced lub portion 39, the circumference of which may carry a plurality of 40 adapted to be en aged by a detent spring to be hereinafter' escribed. The-"member 31 may also be provided with an axial bore 42 in which may be slidably mounted a bushing or sleeve 43.l Tile said sleeve may have a bore 44 to receive the shaft 14, and the member 30 likewise may have a bore 45 whereby it may be slidably mounted upon the said shaft.

In order to operatively connect thel two I As stated above, any desired number of permutation wheels may be employed, and in order to maintain the wheels in properly `spaced relation and also in order to prevent the picking of the lock by means of a. thininstrument inserted through the openings 50 of the face plate adjacent the wheels, in the manner described in my prior Patent No. 1,606,701, there may be provided the necessary number of substantially annular shield lmembers 51, which are adapted to surround ltlllledmembers30 when the parts are asseme within one of the recesses 37 of the other end surrounding,lr the 39 of the adjacent wheel member. The said shield members I51 are prevented from rotating by means of the toes or projections 17 of the locking bolt 16 which project upwardly through elongated slots 52 extending longitudinally of the saidv members.- as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7. A portion of the end of the member 51 which surrounds the hub 39 may be suitably struck out and bent as indicated vat 53, to constitute the ldetent spring to engage the detent notches 40 formed in the said hub portion 39 of that particular wheel member 3l. Theseshield members are not a feature of the invention ,herein sought to be protected but are claimed in my aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 1,606,701.

One end of the shaft 14 may be enlarged as indicated at 60 (see Figs. 2 and 3), to substantially the same diameter as that of the sleeves 43, and it may enter and serve as a journal for the right-hand wheel memhub portion 46, so that when thel one end of each shield member fitting a amember 31,

' man ber 31. The shoulder 61 'formed by this enlargedportion may engage the right-hand face of the right-hand wheel member as shown in Fig. 2, and the parts may so designed and constructed as to permit a longitudinal movement of the said shaft re1- ative to the frame members 12 for the purpose of releasing certain parts, thereby providing for a shifting of the combination, in a manner which will now be disclosed.I whenever t-lie owner of a device controlled by one of these locks has reason to believe that some unauthorized person has learned his combination, or, whenever, for any other reason, such a shift of the combination may be deemed desirable.

As described above, the "members 30 and 31 are made separate and are connected for rotation as a unit by the pin-and-slot connections 46 and 47. So long as the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 2, for example, any rotation of the indicia-bearlng member 31 will produce a corresponding rotat-ion of the member 30 and the slot 34'of the member 30 will occupy a certain pre-v determined relation to the ring member 31 and the indicia carried thereby. If, however, it is decided to change this relation, as to one or more of the permutation wheels, it is only necessary to push inwardly upon the enlarged right-hand end of the shaft 14 toV move the same axially of the lock, which motion will, through, the enlarged portion 60, be communicated to the rightand wheel member 30 and from it to the next succeeding wheel member 30 by means of the interposed sleeve 43. This longitudinal movement will, of conse, be communicated to all of the various members 30 which may be incorporated in the lock through the various sleeve members 43, as will be readily understood, and inasmuch as the combination members 31 associated with the various members 30 are held against longitudinal movement due to the fact that they project through the openings in the face late and are separated by the spacing, s ield members `51, such movements of the `members will have the eil'ect ofdisengaging the dowel pins or projections 47 of the members A31 from the radially-extending slots -or grooves 46 ofthe members 30, whereupon it will be possible to freely rotate all of the indicia-bearing members 31 independently of the members 30 so as to change the relative positions between the ,slots 34 and their respective indicia. It may be observed that in order to accomplish this longitudinal, movement of the parts the old combination will have to be. set in order that, when the members 30 vare moved toward the left, the

slots 34 may accommodate the toes or pro- 'jections17 of the locking bolt and, of course,

I while the parts are in this position the members 30 will be prevented fromrotating due as viewed in the drawings.

tothe fact that the projections 17 occupy these slots A34. A suitable spring '65 is provided on the right-hand frame member 12 for holding the shaft 14 in either of itsl longitudinal positions. Of. course, after the new combination has been obtained the parts arereturned to their-initial* positions y simply moving the shaft 14 Vto the right- The invention includes means to prevent the Vpossibility of the combination being changed without first setting the permutation Wheels, while the locking bolt 16 is in the unlocked position shown in Fig. 1. This might be accomplished in the manner above described by simplymoving the shaft 14 toward the left, which would, in turn, cause the bolt16 to be likewise moved to the left. To .this end, the vshield member 51 is provided with inwardly-extending projections 66 which normally enter intov the circumferential grooves 32 of the members 30. These projections 66 extend inwardly far enough to engage against the righthand wall of the groove 32, and should longitudinal movement toward the left' of the members 30 be attempted such movement will be prevented by these projections, except when the said members 30vare in a certain position. In order to permit such movement under appropriate conditions, I providel a longitudinally-extending groove 68 leading from the circumferential groove 32 to the right-hand'e'nd of the member 30, which groove is preferably,'alt'hough' notnecessaril located at an angular interval of 180 rom the slot .34 which accommo d ates the locking toe 17. The angular relat1on between these two grooves may be varied, this, of course, dependingl upon t-he particular positions of the inward projections 66 relative to the other parts.

As sta-ted above, the slide member 25 not only servesto lock the suit-case but it may also serve as an ordinary spring latch when the sult-case is unlocked.. That is to say, after the proper combination has been set and the knob or finger-piece V21 has been manipulated to move the pin 19 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figui# 1, thereby moving the bolt 16 from locked to unlocked position, if the combination is destroyed by moving one or more of the permutation wheels so that the bolt 16 isy maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1,

los

with its toes or projectionsI 17 riding in the applied to other forms of locks, such,'for exfample, as that shown in Figs. z5l and 9. which is particular-lf1 adapted for use on grips or hand-bags. nasmuch as. the changes necessary to adapt the invention to this form of lock embody only mechanical details and do not involve an lnventive principle, it is:

1. vIn a.- keyless lock, a plurality of permu-A tation wheels, each comprisin a pair of normally-connected members; a ocking bolt coacting with said wheels adapted to be locked thereby in open and closed positions; means for disengaging said pairs of members; and means for preventin the operation of said last-named means w en said bolt is locked in open position.

2. In a keyless lock, a plurality of permutation wheels, each comprising a pair of normally connected members, one of which is provided with a-circumferential groove, and

a pair of axial slots leading' from said groove to the oppOsite ends of said member; abolt adapted to ride in said groove and the other having a portion adapted to enter said groove through one of said slots; means for moving 'one member of each pair to disengage it from its companion member; and vmeans .0f said slots for preventing the operation -of said last-named means when said bolt portion is in said groove and out of alignment with said first-named slot.

3. Ina keyless lock for suit-cases and the like, a frame; a shaft mounted in said frame; a plurality of permutation wheels mounted on said shaft; a bolt coacting with said' wheels, adapted to be locked in closed and open sitions thereby; a slidable latch;

manna means for moving both said bolt and said latch in one direction; and independent spring means for returning said bolt and said latch, l

4. A keyless lock comprising a casing, and a lock` mechanism mounted therein, said mechanism'including a bolt, a pluralityof permutation tumblers, each comprising a concealed lock-controlling element and a tumbler-setting element exposed for manipulation through anopeni'ng in saridscasing,l

couplings normally `preventing relative movement between the com osite elements of said tumblers, and a sing e coupling-discouplings may be rendered ine meas abling member accessible from the exterior ofthe assembled lock and movable independently of said bolt, whereb all of said ifyective', thereby permittin the combination of said lock to be readily c anged by merely moving saidv tumbler-setting elements to any desired positions while said lock-controlling elements are held fast.

5. 'A keyless lock comprising a casing and a lockv mechanism mounted therein, said mechanismincluding a bolt, a plurality of permutation tumblers each comprisin a concealed lock-conti' lling element an a tumbler-setting element exposed for manipulation through an opening in said casing, couplingsnormally preventing relative movement between the composite elements of said tumblers, stops to maintain said couilings in effective relation except when sai tumblers have been set in a. predetermined relation, and a single coupling-disabling member, accessible;I from the exterior ofthe assembledlock, and movable independently of said bolt, whereby all oi said couplings ma be rendered 'ineffective when the tumblers ave been so set, at which time said stops comprise holding means to prevent movement of said lock-controlling elements, thereb vpermitti the combination of the loc to behreadi y changed by merely moving the tumbler-setting elements to any ldesired positions while said lockcontrolling elements are held fast.

6. A keyless lock comprising a casing and a lock mechanism m'ounted therein, said mechanism including a bolt, a plurality of permutation wheels, each comprlsing a lockcontrolling velement and an indici a-bearing element exposed for manipulation throug a opening in said casing, couplings normally preventing relative movement between the composlte elements of said wheels, and a single coupling-disabling member accessible fromvthe exterior of the assembled lock, and movable independently of said bolt, whereby all of said couplings may be rendered ine'ective, thereby permitting the combination of said lock to be readily 'changed by merely rotating said indiciabearing elements to. any desired positions phile said lock-controlling elements are held ast.

' 7. A keyless lock comprising a casing, a catch vso mounted therein as to be movable from an effective to an ineffective position, and vice versa, a locking bolt so mounted in said casing as to be movable from an effec- .tive position directly preventing movement of said catch to an ineffective position permitting independent movement thereof, and vice versa, and a locking mechanism for said bolt, said mechanism comprising a plurality blers each having a lock-controlling element noA v4of independently settable permutation tummovable into and out of the path lof move' ment of a part of said bolt when in either of its two positions and preventin movement thereof from either position to 't eother eX- cept when said tumblers have been set in a. predetermined relation.

8. A keyless lock comprising 'a casing, a catch so mounted therein as to be movable from an effective toy an'ineft'ective position, and vice versa, a locking bolt forming an extension ofA said catch, said bolt being so mounted in said casing as tobe 'movable from an effective position preventing movement of said catch to an ineffective position permittingr independent movement thereof, and vice versa, a locking mechanism for said bolt, said ,mechanismv comprising a plu-I rality of independently settable permutation tumblers each having a4 lock-controlling element movable into and out of the path of `movement of a part of said bolt when in either of its two positionsand preventing movement thereof from eitherl position to the other -except when said tumblers have been set in a predetermined relation, a manipulator whereby said catch may be retracted when vfree to move, a one-way driving connection between said catch and said bolt' whereby the latter, if free, may be moved from its effective to its ineffective position by retracting said catch, and motive meansy capable of moving said bolt, when free, from its ineffective to its effective position and tending to maintain it there except A'when held fastin its ineffective position by said locking mechanism, the connection between said catch and bolt being such as to permit an independent return of the former to effective position independently of the latter` tion preventing movement of said late tion with akeeper, a manipulator by which said latch may be retracted when freepalocking bolt movable from an effective ost0 an ineffective position permitting independent movement thereof, and vice versa, a locking mechanism forsaid bolt, said mechanisin comprising a plurality of independently settable permutation tumblers each havinga lock-controlling element movable into and out of the path of movement of a part of said bolt when in either of its two positions and preventing movement thereof from either position to the` other except when set in a predetermined position, a." oneway driving connection vbetweenv said latch and said bolt whereby the latter", if free, may be' moved from its effective toits ineffective position by retracting `said latch, and m0- tive means, independent of the spring of said latch, capable of moving said bolt, when free, from its ineffective to ltsetfective position and tending Ito maintain it there except when'hcldfa'st inv its ineifective position by said locking mechanism, the connection between said latch andbolt being such as to permit an independent, return of the former from its retractedto its effective po# sition independently of the latter, but

spo 

